The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-29
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
Senator Edmunds on Internal Taxes-The |
Railroad Attorney Bill
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28-Mr Edmunds, in pre-
eenting memorial from manufacturers and
business men in Vermont for a repeal or rednc
tion of internal taxes, said that many such pet-
tions had been presented. In presenting this
one, and moving its reference to the committee
on finance, he wished to urge on that commit
tee the Importance of the subject of reducing
If not altogether repeating, this remnant OF the
unpleasantness of twenty-five years ago. lie
should be glad to see the country restored to
such business conditions had existed before
that time and to have the resources of the gov
eminent obtained entirely from importations and
the little incidental matters of land. ETC.. in
stead of keeping up an army Of internal revenue
tax-gathsrers. inspectors and all that sort of
thing He hoped the committee would take the
matter into serious consideration Referred to
the committee on finance.
Mr.. Malone presented numerous petitions
from Virginia manufacturers OF and dealers In
tobacco, for the abolition of the tobacco tax and
submitted some remarks in support of them.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar, leave was granted to
the committee on privileges and elections to sit
during the sessions of the Senate.
Bills were reported from committees and
placed on the calendar as follows: For secur-
ing statistics of the extent and value of the fish,
5pg interests of the United States fixing the sal
aries of the Commissioners of Education and
Labor at $1,000; to incorporate the National
Academy of Science
Mr.. Plumb offered a resolution directing the
secretary of the Interior to report whether there
b any rule in the Pension Office denying hear
Ing to claimants who have petitioned Congress
for relief. He based the resolution on letter
- - -. 49, z1~.~~ kAe<
as he had applied to Congress for relief he had
forfeited" his right TO a hearing in the Pension
Bureau. Laid aside without action.
The act granting pensions to dependent par
bnts of soldiers, ETC., having been returned by
the House-as asked yesterday by Mr.. Hoar,
who had moved to reconsider the vote passing it
MIR. Plat stated that the motion to reconsider
had been made at his request The bill pensoned
survivors of the Black Hawk, Seminole and other
Indian wars. That he did not object to, but he
wished to refer to some statistics as to the
RIe0;:-. the bill was going to require, and to
compare 1t with the amount which 1t would re-
qure for Union soldiers. He would do that
soon.
The Senate then proceeded to consideration of
q bill to prohibit members Of Congress from
acting as attorneys or employees for railroad COM
panies holding charters or having received
grants of land or pecuniary aid from the United
States, and Mr. Berry addressed the Senate in
advocacy of the bill. He did not believe that a
Senator or member drawing $4,000 or $40 900 a
railroad company could act and vote impartially
on the Pacific funding bill or the Northern Pa
cifc iand-forfeiture bill.
Mr.. Teller said that he prepared to vote
against the bill, notwithstanding ewspaper clam
or and notwithstanding the effort made to attract
attention to the fact that the Senate was body
OF lawyers, and the charge that Senators were
devoting to the practice of law for railroad cor
porations the time they should devote to the
public service. Quacks politics had filed the
public press with attacks on what they called
the "House of Lords" He realized the
fact that the Senate-not representing
public sentiment, not representing the great
masses Of the people, but representing the States
--had ceased to be a popular body in the estima-
ton of the people. He understood that there
was abroad in the country new and determined
effort to break down the Senate, to destroy Its
usefulness and thus eventually compel its abo
lition. 1t could not be abolished while Delaware
and Rhode Island insisted on the right giver
them when the Constitution was adopted, with
out revolution and the absolute destruction Of
the Constitution. The Senate would continue tc
exist He did not believe that such attacks or
the Senate as were con cealed within the bill
were calculated to strengthen it with the people
Mr.. Wilson, IF Maryland, made an argument
in favor of the original bill
Mr.. Frye here took the floor in order as be
said, TO give a piece Of information. He read al
Associated Press telegram just received from
PASSPORT Me-, stating that the winter school 0
herring had struck in to the American shore, an
that about twenty five English boats and vessel
were there fishing, ,rs,kin the shore line. AM
that. meanwhile this English cruiser Middleton
was cruising between Eastport and St Andre WIS
ready to seize any American fisherman tina
might venture beyond the dead-line That wa
ali. he said
Mr. Call argued against the bill. He move
toamend the bill by striking out the secon
section which provides for criminal prosecution
Mr.. Morgan said the bin described an offens
and called it "misdemeanor," while the Sen,
tor from Kentucky knew perfectly we'll tina
%l,1N t,t,xt hx.s
could be arrested for a misdemeanor while i
was in attendance in Congress. or on his way
or from Washington.
Mr. Call-And he could not be arrested
home, because the offense would have been con
mitted in the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Morgan-Of course he could not. Thi
bill is a response to mere clamor, and did nc
come from the clear Judgment of the Senator
MIR Becksl able mind
Amendments to the bill were offered by Nj
Plat and Mr. Hoar. The latter said that IL
bill was aimed at a state of things not existir
and not likely to exist He was willing to go
far rs to provide that, when a land grant RAJ
road company had legislation before Congress
no Senator member who bore the relation
that company of counsel and client should tai
part in that legislation And that was the pu
Dose of the amendment which he had offered.
At the close of Mr.. Hoar's speech, two me
sages from the President were presented, OIL
vetoine the bill granting pension TO Beniam
Obekiak, and the other vetoing the bill for Il
Ieilei Oh IL n belolDs Inc messages We
laid on the table,
Mr.. Hoar withdrew his motion to reconsid
the vote by which the dependent parents pc
sion bill was passed yesterday. He explain
that ne had an OBJ election to the clause about
pendent parents, but he did not wish, by offeri,
an amendment. to imperil the final passage
she bill.
The Senate then adjourned until tomorrow.
THE HOUSE